Comments for The Sound of Rain http://soundofrain.net thoughts on the human experience Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:02:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 Comment on The least of the Three Treasures by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-354 soundofrain Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:02:32 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-354 Thank you! I'll look for Ambivalent Zen, it sounds good. Have you read Shoes Outside the Door by Michael Downing? Another troubled zendo. A few months ago, I found out there's been some pretty bad stuff going on at my former zendo and the associated monastery for years. When I get a chance, I'll post about it. It made me doubly glad I'd stopped going. Your zendo sounds great! I've heard wonderful things about Chapel Hill in general. Thank you! I’ll look for Ambivalent Zen, it sounds good. Have you read Shoes Outside the Door by Michael Downing? Another troubled zendo.

A few months ago, I found out there’s been some pretty bad stuff going on at my former zendo and the associated monastery for years. When I get a chance, I’ll post about it. It made me doubly glad I’d stopped going.

Your zendo sounds great! I’ve heard wonderful things about Chapel Hill in general.

]]> Comment on The least of the Three Treasures by Professordave http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Professordave Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:40:23 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-353 I think this sangha sounds like a bunch of drips. Starts with the head monk and goes right on down (but I think the head monk sets the tone). There's no excuse for this shit. I wouldn't go there either. (Don't know if you've read Ambivalent Zen, by Lawrence Shainberg, but he describes a similar group. Maybe you've wandered into his old zendo!) I can't believe there isn't someplace better than this in all of New York. I attend the Chapel Hill Zen Center in North Carolina, and we have a wonderful sangha of very helpful people. The Abbess sets the tone for that, and has taken real care to creat a welcoming atmosphere. I think that's very important. I think that in a lot of cases people are just self-conscious in a situation like this. They don't know quite how to act, so they act in a cold and offensive way. Also, zendos back in Japan often were cold harsh places on purpose, more like the military than a religious institution, and some of that may have carried over. But I wouldn't put up with it. You were right to leave. I think this sangha sounds like a bunch of drips. Starts with the head monk and goes right on down (but I think the head monk sets the tone). There’s no excuse for this shit. I wouldn’t go there either. (Don’t know if you’ve read Ambivalent Zen, by Lawrence Shainberg, but he describes a similar group. Maybe you’ve wandered into his old zendo!)

I can’t believe there isn’t someplace better than this in all of New York. I attend the Chapel Hill Zen Center in North Carolina, and we have a wonderful sangha of very helpful people. The Abbess sets the tone for that, and has taken real care to creat a welcoming atmosphere. I think that’s very important.

I think that in a lot of cases people are just self-conscious in a situation like this. They don’t know quite how to act, so they act in a cold and offensive way. Also, zendos back in Japan often were cold harsh places on purpose, more like the military than a religious institution, and some of that may have carried over.

But I wouldn’t put up with it. You were right to leave.

]]> Comment on New earth on the barrens by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/new-earth-on-the-barrens/comment-page-1/#comment-352 soundofrain Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:13:06 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=546#comment-352 I've never heard of it! It sounds potentially mind-blowing. I've put it on my list, thank you! Right now I'm reading Summer of the Apocalypse by James van Pelt - absolutely beautiful - I will post a review when I'm finished. I’ve never heard of it! It sounds potentially mind-blowing. I’ve put it on my list, thank you!

Right now I’m reading Summer of the Apocalypse by James van Pelt – absolutely beautiful – I will post a review when I’m finished.

]]> Comment on New earth on the barrens by Professordave http://soundofrain.net/new-earth-on-the-barrens/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Professordave Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:49:10 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=546#comment-351 Have you read Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delany? I think that should be next on your list, if you haven't read it yet. Have you read Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delany? I think that should be next on your list, if you haven’t read it yet.

]]> Comment on Self-deception by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/self-deception/comment-page-1/#comment-321 soundofrain Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:48:48 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=531#comment-321 I always think more awareness has got to be better... but I wouldn't look for a magic solution to anything. I hope that just sitting with your insecurities can help you see that they're not real. I always think more awareness has got to be better… but I wouldn’t look for a magic solution to anything. I hope that just sitting with your insecurities can help you see that they’re not real.

]]> Comment on Self-deception by Nancy http://soundofrain.net/self-deception/comment-page-1/#comment-320 Nancy Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:18:03 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=531#comment-320 I love this post, thank you for sharing! As someone who just started to look a bit deeper into Buddhism, I find your perspective really interesting - that being truthful to yourself may have negative consequences. I look to meditation as a way to become truly self aware, and I look forward to being self aware because it is a step in the right direction towards true happiness. I mean.. if you're self aware, you can't have insecurities, right? I've always seen my insecurities being the root of my unhappiness. If I can be really comfortable in my own skin, who will have the capability of bringing me down? Always I guess there is a caveat to everything. Thanks again for sharing! I love this post, thank you for sharing! As someone who just started to look a bit deeper into Buddhism, I find your perspective really interesting – that being truthful to yourself may have negative consequences. I look to meditation as a way to become truly self aware, and I look forward to being self aware because it is a step in the right direction towards true happiness. I mean.. if you’re self aware, you can’t have insecurities, right? I’ve always seen my insecurities being the root of my unhappiness. If I can be really comfortable in my own skin, who will have the capability of bringing me down? Always I guess there is a caveat to everything. Thanks again for sharing!

]]> Comment on New earth on the barrens by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/new-earth-on-the-barrens/comment-page-1/#comment-314 soundofrain Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:30:19 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=546#comment-314 Corrected, thank you! And, agreed. Corrected, thank you! And, agreed.

]]> Comment on New earth on the barrens by Finzi Holst http://soundofrain.net/new-earth-on-the-barrens/comment-page-1/#comment-313 Finzi Holst Mon, 21 Feb 2011 05:07:09 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=546#comment-313 It's Russell Hoban. One of the finest living authors. It’s Russell Hoban. One of the finest living authors.

]]> Comment on Can it be… SEITAN? by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/can-it-be-seitan/comment-page-1/#comment-304 soundofrain Tue, 04 Jan 2011 02:33:33 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=487#comment-304 I never did make it again; it did get kind of tough after the first day, and it started to seem yucky. Plus now I'm trying to avoid gluten. How much did you knead it? I think that was the mistake I made, because the more you knead gluten, the tougher it gets. Good luck! I never did make it again; it did get kind of tough after the first day, and it started to seem yucky. Plus now I’m trying to avoid gluten. How much did you knead it? I think that was the mistake I made, because the more you knead gluten, the tougher it gets. Good luck!

]]> Comment on Can it be… SEITAN? by Kana http://soundofrain.net/can-it-be-seitan/comment-page-1/#comment-303 Kana Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:59:50 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=487#comment-303 Hi, I tried this recipe and found it to be way too tough. Have you made it again? Any advice for getting a softer and less dense seitan? Hi,
I tried this recipe and found it to be way too tough. Have you made it again? Any advice for getting a softer and less dense seitan?

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